FOILERS

In this episode of the FOILERS Podcast, we go deep into the all-new Cabrinha Union foil system — a complete rethink of their foil design built around stiffness, simplicity, and performance.
Joining me are John Modica (Chairman of Cabrinha) and Lars Moltrup (Product Development Manager) to unpack:
Why the Union system was built from the ground up
The thinking behind the Mike’s Lab inspired connection
How stiffness, drag reduction, and design choices impact real-world riding feel
What makes riders say it feels “buttery smooth” on the water
How to choose between the 760, 905, and 1150 front wings
Why the 905 is the ultimate all-rounder
The role of stabilisers (and why they matter more than most riders think)
A sneak peek at the upcoming Tweaker stabliser and Whippet foil
We also dive into the balance between engineering and rider feel, the realities of building a new foil platform, and Cabrinha’s philosophy of high-performance simplicity without the BS.
If you’re into wing foiling, prone, downwind or just want to understand how modern foil systems are evolving — this is one not to miss.

In this episode of the Foilers Podcast, Pete Walmsley sits down with Western Australian foiler Hugh Mitchell—one of the most inspiring young riders in the sport today.
Hugh’s journey into foiling started in 2019 with his dad’s first foil setup on the Swan River. Just a few years later, he’s chasing adventures across Australia downwind, competing in the legendary Molokai-to-Oahu race in Hawaii, coaching new foilers, running 'The Foil Project' podcast, and producing the adventure film 'Desert Winds'.
In this conversation, Hugh shares the full story behind his rapid rise in foiling—from working at the Foil Shop in Perth to embarking on a 300km remote downwind expedition along Western Australia’s coastline, encountering sharks offshore, and pushing his limits in some of the world’s toughest downwind conditions.
We also dive into:
How Hugh discovered downwind foiling

Lessons from working in the foiling industry

The making of the Desert Winds film

Touring the film around Australia

Racing in the Hawaii Downwind Race Series

Creating and running the 'Project Flow' foiling event

Coaching foilers in Perth

Becoming a sponsored rider

It’s a story about passion, pushing boundaries, and building community in one of the fastest-growing watersports in the world.
If you love foiling, adventure, and the people driving the sport forward, this episode is packed with inspiration.

Chris Doerfel — founder of Hydrofoil Academy Australia at the Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney — joins the FOILERS Podcast to break down what actually helps people learn wing foiling (and prone foiling) faster.
Originally from Austria, Chris has spent 20+ years in ocean sports (windsurfing, kiting, surfing) and explains how COVID kicked off his wing foiling obsession — to the point of doing multiple sessions a day — and how that momentum turned into a coaching program built around making foiling accessible, safe, and fun.
In this episode we get into:
How the foiling scene in Sydney evolved from a tiny crew to a fast-growing community

Why beginner gear has changed massively

The real reason beginners struggle

Chris’s approach: tow behind a boat vs Foil Drive assist (who should do what, and why)

The underrated skills

The most common mistake Chris sees

Why prone foiling is booming in Australia

Gear trends

Big-picture - what foiling can learn from the windsurfing boom

If you’re a beginner, an intermediate chasing cleaner gybes/takeoffs, or you’re just frothing on where foiling is going next — this one’s packed with practical insight and plenty of stoke.
🎧 Subscribe to FOILERS for more interviews with the people shaping foiling — from designers to coaches and riders.

Chris Porter, aerospace engineer and founder of Crisp Foils unpacks the science, experimentation, and rider feedback behind high-performance foil design — with a deep dive into why stabilisers play such a critical role in how a foil feels and performs on the water.
Chris explains how his background in aerospace engineering and CNC machining led him to focus on one of the most overlooked components in foiling setups: the stabiliser. While most riders obsess over front wings, Chris breaks down how changes to stabiliser size, aspect ratio, flex, foil section and trailing-edge finish can dramatically affect pumping efficiency, carving feel, speed range and overall control.
The conversation covers:
Why stabilisers deliver the biggest performance gains per dollar

Choosing stabiliser size based on rider height, weight and discipline

The role of stabilisers in pump foiling, downwind foiling, winging and prone

How poor trailing-edge finishing causes foil noise — and how to fix it

Shimming, foot pressure and tuning your setup for different speed ranges

Designing stabilisers for everyday riders vs elite athletes

Chris also shares his journey from backyard prototyping to working with Armstrong Foils, collaborating with Code Foils, and designing stabilisers ridden by elite foilers — including Oscar Johansson’s world-record pump foiling session.
If you’re an intermediate or advanced foiler looking to tune your setup, or you’ve ever wondered why a simple stabiliser change can completely transform your ride, this episode will change how you think about foil performance. Enjoy

ENSIS has a comprehensive range of quality foiling products, but it’s not a brand that shouts from the rooftops. In true Swiss style, they’re quietly confident, letting their gear speak for itself.
In this episode, Karl Müller—founder and managing director of ENSIS—joins the FOILERS Podcast to unpack how their “Swissness” enables them to stand out in the market with high-quality, precise, and reliable foiling products that withstand rigorous testing by the likes of Balz Müller, a team rider, known for pushing products to their limits.
We rewind to 2019, when Karl, Balz Müller and designer Damien Girardin kicked off ENSIS. From there, we dive into the ENSIS product development program, their focus on customer service, and why they actively build a team with a strong female presence.
Karl also breaks down what makes their new Maniac foil system stand out and what riders notice most when they try them. We also discuss what’s changed in their latest wings, including their popular Top Spin wings, walk through their foil board range, and discuss parawing products in development.
We finish with quick-fire topics: dream foiling spots (yes—Western Australia gets a mention), the moment Karl loves most in the product development process, and much more. Enjoy.